The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 21, 2025
As we’ve reported, President Donald Trump said August 18th he would end the use of voting machines in the U.S., claiming without evidence they contributed to widespread election fraud. The same day, conservative media company Newsmax settled a defamation lawsuit for $67 million dollars with Dominion Voting Systems for airing similar conspiracy theories.
Trump said in a social media post he wanted to end the use of ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial Voting Machines,” echoing accusations he made leading up to the January 6th insurrection, when one Capitol police officer was killed and 174 officers were injured.
In May, Delaware Judge Eric Davis found sufficient evidence that Newsmax hosts and guests, including Trump campaign lawyers Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, and Jenna Ellis had repeatedly spread defamatory conspiracy theories that manipulation of Dominion Voting Systems machines resulted in widespread fraud.
With a trial scheduled for October, and the judge’s ruling that the jury could consider “actual malice” – whether or not Newsmax executives KNEW the information was false and aired it anyway – they settled the case for $67 million dollars. It’s far less than the $787 million dollar settlement with Fox News over similar defamation claims.
In a statement, Newsmax said Dominion’s suit was an attack on a free press.
We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
American Democracy Minute – (2024) Newsmax Settles with Smartmatic Over Airing 2020 Voting Machine Conspiracy Theories
American Democracy Minute – President Trump Threatens Executive Order to End Voting by Mail and Use of Voting Machines
Truth Social – Post by President Donald Trump Threatening to End Use of Mail-In Voting and Voting Machines
Delaware Superior Court – Dominion Voting Systems v. Newsmax Media
NPR – Newsmax pays $67 million to settle defamation case linked to 2020 election coverage
Newsmax – Newsmax Announces Settlement with Dominion Voting Systems
U.S. Securities Exchange Commission – Filing by Newsmax Announcing Settlement
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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